Weekend Update 12/13/20

[up1950s]

http://jssxrailway.blogspot.com/2019/02/flat-car-turned-gondola.html

[Bob]

Hi all - I am about to install my first field of corn, and I'll use the Bluford Shop's product.  My question is whether anyone has used this or other plastic product, and then painted it to improve the appearance?  I am wondering what type of green paint to use.  Spookshow's incredible Hope, MN layout uses lots of this stuff - he described how he painted the tassels, but I don't believe he painted the actual stalks. I'm thinking that painting these would make them look less like green plastic.  Anyone have experience with this that they can share?  Thanks!  Bob

[BCRail_FSJ]

Good progress on BCR 606 with most of the decals done.   PGE 610 also progressing well.  Applying the white lines is never going to be easy in N scale but it does get slightly less infuriating with practice.   Bit of work needed to get the handrails sitting better but overall they are looking good and it will be fun to get to the application of final details and weathering.

[Tom L]

Every Christmas time I get out my FVM Hiawatha. This year it’s being joined by a few other passenger trains for all passenger session.

Here they are in the staging yard, ready to go.

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Tom L
Wellington CO

[Mark W]

Starting to get the HOn3-mo layout to resemble something!


https://i.imgur.com/8wFQJGk.jpg


I had an expensive day picking up 9 Blackstone freight cars, but they sure are lovely!

 
https://i.imgur.com/S4USIgR.jpg


I've just been playing through little switching scenarios, building short trains, and hauling freight between the terminals.


https://i.imgur.com/Zz9tcXR.jpg

I'm getting a good idea for building placement and services, but it's been a little tricky getting used to the larger scale (up from N scale)!  After plotting a foundation, I keep thinking that is way too big for a small freight depot!


On the N scale side of things, new Run-bys are out!!

I've been excited for this one, the Kato Mikado is super detailed with the GHQ zen kit, and is one of my favorite pieces. 

[railnerd]

More updates here: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=31751.msg690654#msg690654

[Ike the BN Freak]

http://jssxrailway.blogspot.com/2019/02/flat-car-turned-gondola.html

Great, another project I need to add to my list, need to find some of the Athearn GSC flats with bulkheads

[GhengisKong]

Hi all - I am about to install my first field of corn, and I'll use the Bluford Shop's product.  My question is whether anyone has used this or other plastic product, and then painted it to improve the appearance?  I am wondering what type of green paint to use.  Spookshow's incredible Hope, MN layout uses lots of this stuff - he described how he painted the tassels, but I don't believe he painted the actual stalks. I'm thinking that painting these would make them look less like green plastic.  Anyone have experience with this that they can share?  Thanks!  Bob

CALLING ALL @spookshow

[craigolio1]

Good progress on BCR 606 with most of the decals done.   PGE 610 also progressing well.  Applying the white lines is never going to be easy in N scale but it does get slightly less infuriating with practice.   Bit of work needed to get the handrails sitting better but overall they are looking good and it will be fun to get to the application of final details and weathering.

Those look fantastic!!!

[altohorn25]

The new Kato 20th Century Limited set arrived in the mail yesterday.  The only things I've done to it so far is add Digitrax DN163K0D decoders to the locomotives and swap out the Kato couplers for short Fox Valley Models (formerly Unimate) dummy couplers between the two units to bring them closer together.  I may put a MT true scale coupler in the nose of the lead unit yet.  The engines need some exhaust weathering on the roofs.

[Dave V]

It’s 1941 and RGS C-19 #41 (still in the older lettering scheme) approaches Lizard Head Pass with a northbound (railroad east) consist of one boxcar of Rico ore and five tank cars of oil from Farmington, NM. Caboose 0400 sports its new “sunrise” herald in silver paint.

[wm3798]

The new Kato 20th Century Limited set arrived in the mail yesterday.  The only things I've done to it so far is add Digitrax DN163K0D decoders to the locomotives and swap out the Kato couplers for short Fox Valley Models (formerly Unimate) dummy couplers between the two units to bring them closer together.  I may put a MT true scale coupler in the nose of the lead unit yet.  The engines need some exhaust weathering on the roofs.

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You can almost smell Grace Kelly's perfume!  Nice set...

Just a little scenery on the Retro Hi Rail layout for me this week.  Sorting out one of those model railroady curve over curve behind the back drop situations...




Lee

[thomasjmdavis]

For the past couple weeks, I have been a passenger car modeler in the freight car world.  Specifically, the world of tiny decals cut and pasted around framing on composite gondolas and boxcars.  Was hoping to have these REALLY finished, but waiting on more decals and need to pick up some Krylon matte spray.....  Please forgive the phone pix in the spray booth, but here is the progress so far.

First, a pair of ATSF Ga-11 gondolas from Fine-N-Scale kits, as they would have been painted/lettered in the mid 1950s.  Santa Fe had thousands of these built in the early 20th century with "Caswell" mechanism drop doors. Ga-11s were among the last built, in the mid 20s, but served for 50 years, hauling sulfur and other nasty minerals that would eat through a steel hopper.  I didn't notice that the last application of Microset has floated the numbers on one car until I was cropping the photo.  Fixed now, but you'll have to take my word for it.



The pic below is an almost finished kit for a re-built Santa Fe Bx3/6 (sometimes referred to as "panel side") boxcar from ATSFNSCALEMODELS.com , again with mid 50s paint and lettering.  I am waiting on decals to arrive from K4 decals, which makes a set for Bx-2s, 9s and 11s, while not exactly a Bx-6, do have data that is much closer than the Microscale set I used so far, and perhaps a Santa Fe logo with better alignment - although given the amount of weathering these will get, I can touch up the paint or just cut away the offending white bit on the left, and it will look fine when complete.  Likewise, that last zero collapsed a bit when the Microset dried, but I may just leave well enough alone.  Also need to add 905 couplers, per Fine N Scale recommendation, to my next hobby shop order.

The Bx-3/6 kit is right at the leading edge of my skill set, but with the help of all the useful drilling templates Dirk provides with the kit, is an enjoyable challenge.  I have a second one to do, and hopefully will do better with construction and detailing now that I have completed one.  One last thing to mention- you might notice a slight offset where the end fits to the side- this is NOT an error in the way the kit is made, but rather an accurate rendition of the steel framework of the prototype.  I hazard a guess that the originals were built this way to make use of readily available steel structural shapes.  Also, IIRC, the Andrews trucks went out of service for interchange a year or 2 before my tentative 1956 planned layout date, but (a) I haven't found a photo yet of a Bx-6 on newer trucks, and (b) I doubt they were being interchanged much in 1956 and were likely in use on online assignments.  The company also has these available in original form with K brakes, and modified for zinc and ice service.



Cheers.

[arbomambo]

The Virtual National T-TRAK Layout is proud to announce the winners of the Kato USA-sponsored Module contest.
 With so many beautiful modules participating from all over the world, it was tough having to choose just three, but here they are:
1st Place - Randall Gustafson, Warren, PA, with his "Trunkeyville" double
2nd Place - Oklahoma N Rail Club, with their "Blue Whale of Catoosa" double
3rd Place - Stephen Moore - Frisco, TX, with his Japanese Shrine single
The NTRAK organization has also picked their choice for their "Terry Nathan" Memorial Car recipient:
Bob Felker - St. Louis, MO, with his "World's Largest Ketchup Bottle" single module
The National T-TRAK Layout thanks Kato USA and Jacksonville Terminal Co, LLC. for their continued support for The National T-TRAK Layout!
https://nationalt-traklayout.com/

[narrowminded]

Congratulations to @randgust !!!  I've seen that module and it's a very well deserved award.